Detect dangerous ragwort

Content

• Detect dangerous ragwort
• Ragwort is also poisonous when dried
• Recognition characteristics of the Jakobs Kreuzkrautes
• St. John's wort and St. John's wort differ
• Recognize the common ragwort
• Tips

The shape and number of petals of ragweed is very different from that of St. John's wort

Detect dangerous ragwort

In Germany, about 30 different species of ragweed - which is sometimes referred to as Greiskraut - home. The genus of plants is found worldwide and contains about 1000 different species, all of which are more or less toxic. In our case, especially the ragwort, the narrow-leafed ragwort and the common ragwort are widespread.

Early Article Greiskraut - All species are poisonous Next article Fight poisonous ragwort successfully

Ragwort is also poisonous when dried

All ragweed species contain highly toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause irreversible liver damage in both humans and animals, resulting in death. Most plants are quickly recognized because of their bitter, unpleasant taste, but this loses itself in the dried state - in contrast to the toxins that remain fully effective even in dried ragwort. Unfortunately, dried ragwort is very difficult to distinguish from other hay ingredients.

Recognition characteristics of the Jakobs Kreuzkrautes

The dangerous ragwort is between 30 and 120 centimeters high. The bright yellow flower heads have exactly 13 ray florets. The flowers are arranged to upright umbels. The few leaves are located directly on the stem, are narrow lanceolate and pinnate. They are reminiscent of rocket leaves, but are much smaller and darker. Occasionally, these leaves can be mistaken for chamomile leaves. Young plants do not have pinnate leaves, instead, these are booked and arranged in rosettes. The flowers are seen between June and October.

St. John's wort and St. John's wort differ

The St. John's wort as well as the St. Jacob's wort appear to be quite similar at first sight and are therefore often confused. In contrast to the poisonous plant, however, the St. John's wort has a flower with exactly five petals and up to 100 very long stamens. The oval-ovate leaves appear as dotted by the numerous oil glands. In addition, the two-edged stem is not hollow, but filled with a soft marrow. The St. John's wort blooms from June to August.

Recognize the common ragwort

The common ragwort has a very different appearance than the ragwort: the plant is only between 10 to 30 centimeters high and has more or less hairless, fiederspaltige to pinnate leaves. In addition, the showy tongue flowers are missing, instead, the baskets are framed by mostly ten very short Bracts. All other Greiskraut species have at least short or rolled back, but usually well-trained tongue flowers. Also striking is the reminiscent of a dandelion fruit stand with the numerous white Schirmchenfliegern.

Tips

Previously, the common ragwort was used to stop bleeding in folk medicine. However, this is not recommended today due to the toxicity of the plant.